Ryan Machado

Ryan Machado is a Filipino film director. He won the 2024 Cinemalaya Best Director for "Huling Palabas".

Biography

He was born and raised in the island province of Romblon.

He is a professor of Philippine Arts & Culture and Film at the University of the Philippines Manila. He is currently taking up his MFA in Creative Writing at the De La Salle University.

Career

Theater

He won third prize for his one-act play "Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria" at the Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature. It was staged that same year at the Virgin Labfest 17 of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

In 2025, his "Don't Meow for Me, Catriona" was staged at the 20th edition of the CCP's Virgin Labfest. The play starred veteran actress Peewee O'Hara and film actress Angelica Panganiban, in her theater debut and also her public performance in years.

Movies

He wrote and directed his first full-length movie Huling Palabas, a queer coming-of-age film, which premiered at the 19th Cinemalaya Film Festival where he won the Best Director award at the same festival. Machado has said that he intended the movie to be a tribute to the film-viewing culture in his hometown, as well as a way to feature his province. The film is also notable for being the first full-length feature film set in his native language Onhan. Huling Palabas later had its first international premiere at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival,

His second film, Rumaragasa, premiered at the 21st Cinemalaya Film Festival, where it won for Best Cinematography and Best Sound. The film is based on a plane crash and a sexual abuse case which both happened in his home province. It was again selected to be in competition at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (at the Panorama category). The movie was selected as one of the participating Filipino movies in the 23rd Asian Film Festival in Rome; in the same festival, Machado won Best Director.

Works

Theater Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria - 2022 Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Award for Literature (3rd Place, Dulang May Isang Yugto), Virgin Labfest 17 Don't Meow for Me, Catriona - Virgin Labfest 20 (2025)

Filmography

Year Original title English title Director Writer Editor Notes 2017 Engkwento - short film 2017 Swiss Side - short film 2023 Huling Palabas Fin / Love and Videotapes 2023 Cinemalaya Film Festival 2025 Rumaragasa Raging 2025 Cinemalaya Film Festival

Awards

Organization Year Nominated Work Category Result Ref. FAMAS Awards 2014 Engkwento Best Short Film Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature 2022 Huling Haraya nina Ischia at Emeteria Dulang May Isang Yugto Berlin International Film Festival 2024 Huling Palabas Best Film (Teddys) Best Film (Generation 14 plus) Young Critics Circle 2024 Huling Palabas Best First Feature (tied with "Gitling") Best Screenplay Best Film Cinemalaya Film Festival 2024 Huling Palabas Best Director Best Film Society of Filipino Film Reviewers 2024 Huling Palabas Best Film Best Director Best Screenplay Best First Feature 2025 Rumaragasa Best Director 23rd Asian Film Festival (Rome) 2026 Rumaragasa Best Director